Carburetor



Sept. 15, 1925.

F. W. SPRINGER CARBURETOR Filed Aug. 51 1917 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 wE w mi Imrrfor:

GARBURETOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 31 1917 oom @w NOW bow F. W. SPRINGER Sept. 15, 1925.

GARBURETOR I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Im/enro r:

Patented Sept. I 15, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,554,047 PATENT OFFICE.

FRANKLIN WESLEY srnmenn, or mnmmroms, 'mnnnsom.

CARBURETOR. I

Application flled August 31,1917. Serial No. 189,121.

To allwhom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN WESLEY SPRINGER, a citizen of the United States,

residing at Minneapolis, in the county of or low grade fuel and one which will operate equally as efiiciently at all loads and;

speeds of the engine. An objectof the in vention is to provide a carburetor of'high efliciency, quick accelerating characteristics, great flexibility, easy starting in cold weather, as well as at other times, quick heating, easy adjustment fordifl'erent engines and fuels and working conditions, and of high maximum power with either high or low grade fuels such as gasolines, kerosenes, alcohols, mixtures, and similar fuels in use for operating internal combustion engines. A further object is to provide a carburetor which can be readily applied to internal combustion engines already built without the necessity of addingexpensive parts such as new heads and manifolds or making material changes in the engine. This requires that the carburetor be substantially complete within itself as herein disclosed. Another object is to provide for controlling the fuel mixture at different speeds and loads in addition to the control afforded by the usual throttle, needle, and choke valves.

The full objects and advantages of my invention will appear in connection with the detailed description thereof and are particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings illustrating my invention:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of my invention showing the principal parts of the same. i

Figure 2 is a vertical section throughthe fuel mixing device shown in Figure 1, and drawn to a larger scale.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the carburetor with some of the parts cutaway to show others within the device.

Figure '1 is an end elevation view of the carburetor showing the water control float bowl in section.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the temperature controlling device of the heater showing the relative positioning of the parts.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 with the parts rearranged. Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line 88. ofFigure 1 showing the spring controlling -device.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the carburetor shown in Figure 1, .5

embodying a diflerent form of spring controlling device for the air valve.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 2 of a modification of the structure shown there- .111

My invention is most clearly shown in Figure 1. -A casing 10 is formed on one side with a vertical cylindrical mixing chamber 11 and on the other side with a main air inlet passageway 12. A cap piece 13, having ahorizontal enlarged cavlty 215 and provided with a flange-14 may be bolted to a similar flange 15 formed on the lower portion of-casing 10 and brings the mixing chamber 11 into communication with the air inlet 12 through said cavity. Within the mixing, chamber 11 are positioned a pair of cone members 16and 17 arranged with their bases facing each other and spaced from one another to rovi de an aperture through. which the uel; enters the mixing chamber in a manner. to be presently explained. Casing 10 is formed at its upper end with a horizontal neck 18, which communicates with chamber 11 and has an elliptical flange '19 by means of which the carburetor can be attached to the manifold of an engine. The air inlet 12 is connected by means of a flexible tube 20 or any other suitable device, to an air heater of common type not shown in the drawings.

All of the air used in the carburetor is drawn in through the'inlet passageway 12. In order to control the supply of air to the carburetor and hence, determine the richness of the fuel mixture, a valve 21 is employed which has an automatic controlling device t, constructed as follows: Valve 21 is secured tothe end of a spindle 22 which is mounted in a long boss 23 formed on the uper por-. tion of the inlet 12. Opposite the valve 21 in cap 13 is screwed a lug 24 whichserves as a seat for a coil spring 25 acting against the under side of said valve and by means of which the compression of said spring may be regulated. l a

A look nut 26 holds'the adjusting plug 24.- in' place after the spring is properly ad justed. At theextreme end of spindle 22 is mounted a dash pot of ordinary construction for preventing fluttering of the valve, comprising a piston 27 secured to said spin dle and a cylinder 28 formed integral with a bracket 29 extending from casing 10. Immediately below cylinder 28 is positioned a lever 30 which is formed at one endwith aknife edge 31 engaging a socket 32in a lug 33. As appears in Figure 7, a blade 34 formed integral with lug 33 extends in to a longitudinal crevice 35 in the knife edge 31 and when pressure is applied from above or below the lever 30, prevents the same from slipping out from the socket 32 along the spring 41 is employed which is seated between two seats 42 and 43. Both of these seats are provided with knife edge pivots 44 and 45 similar to that described, seat 42 being pivoted to the end of lever 30 and seat. 43 toa fixed member 46. This con struction clearly prevents any side pressure on the spindle 22 the slot 37 permitting said spindle to move relative to the lever 30.

In operation spring 41 is adjusted by a device to be presently described so that the same acts at an incline towards the valve stem 22 when the valve is closed as isshown in Figure 1. In that position said spring in conjunction with-lever 30 tends to hold the valve closed. The operation .of the device is as follows: As the throttle is opened and the engine speeds up the suction increases and the valve 21 opens'further andfurther. In ordinary devices of a similar character where a. direct acting spring is used the valve opens proportionately to the degree of suction. With my invention, however, a certain change of suction may at hi hspeeds effect a much greater change in valve opening than the same change of suction at low speeds. This, as will become evident, is due to the tendency of the spring 41.

and lever 30 to approach alineation in which position spring 41 has no component of force tending to close the valve 21. The effect of this spring action is to cause the increase in suction to be less rapid at high speeds, which hence tends to reduce the amount of fuel drawn into the carburetor,

but which permits of a greater amount of air being taken in due to the greater valve;

opening. In this manner a leaner mixture is automatically provided at high speeds without varying the fuel opening. By introducing the spring 25, the act on of the controlling device can be modified. The opposition of the spring 25 to opening move ment of the valve 21 increases as the valve opens while the opposition of the spring 41 to such opening movement decreases at the same time so that the effect of one spring tends to offset the eiiect of the otherspring. If desired the spring 25 may be brought into action only after the valve has been opened a predetermined amount. This is effected by greatly loosening the screw plug 24.

The action of the controlling device of valve 21 may be further modified by varying the initial compression of spring 41 or by changing the angularity of action of said spring against the spindle 22. The first method simply changes the force tending to hold the valve open throughout the range of movement of the valve in a measure proportional to the initial compressive stress in this spring. The second method changes the range of action of the controlling device relative to the movement of the valve and simply varies the point of release or nonaction of said controlling device upon the valve in the cycle of movement of saidvalve if said point is ever reached. These adjustments may be effected as follows: A screw 47 is pivoted at one end in a lug 48 on the casing 10 and is adjustably secured at its other end by means of a thumb nut 49 andscrew 5.0 in a slot 51 formed in a bracket 52 mounted on the top of the air inlet 12. The previously mentioned member 46 to which spring 41 is pivoted, is splined upon the screw 47 and may be adjustably moved'along the same by means of two nuts 53 and 54which also serve to hold thesame in place in any of its adjusted positions.

a By regulating these nuts the angularity of springi41 relative to spindle 22 ma be varied. By oscillating screw 47 upon its pivot 48 the compression of said spring may also be varied.

All of the air employed by the carburetor is first heated by means of a heater of ordinary construction and is then drawn through the inlet 12 into the carburetor. Before the same passes the valve 21 a portion of it is drawn through a separate by-pass 55, is superheated and brought'into the cones 16 and 17, there serving a purpose to be later explained. The device for superheating this quantity of air can best be seen in Figures 1 and 3. A jacket 56 surrounds the upper portion of the cylindrical mixing-chamber 11 and is formed integral with the casing 10 at the bottom at 57 and is open or spaced from it at the top at 58. A cap 59 is screwable upon the upper end of the jacket 56 at 60 and is so constructed as to leave a space 61 within the same immediately above the neck 18 and mixing chamber 11. In this space is positioned a helical tube or coil 62 which is directly connected to the exhaust manifold by a flexible tube 68. At the bottom of jacket 56 is formed an outlet neck 69 to which is connected a pipe 70 leading to the atmosphere or back again into the exhaust as desired. As the heated fluid of the engine passes the neck 67 the coil 62 and the mixing chamber 11 are simultaneously heated. The by-pass as will be noted enters the air passagewa 12 near the valve 21 and is rovided wit a valve 71 by means of whic the quantity of air flowing through the same can be regulated.

The carbureting and mixing devices of my invention are shown in detail in Figure 2. Thetube 63'being secured to neck 18 at 64 and connected to the cone member 16 supports the same Within the mixing cham ber 11. This tube extends completely through cone member 16 and for a distance beyond it and has an extended flange 72 secured to it which divides the space between the bases of cones 16 and 17 into two annular fissures or orifices 73 and 74. In the extreme end of tube 63 are mounted two pins 75 and 76- which extend through it and through the sides of the cone member '17 thereby supporting the same and holding "the bases of said cone members in proper spaced relation. The cone member 16 is left entirely 0 en at its base and tube 63 is perforated at 7 and 78 and provided with a partition 161 to permit the superheated air to pass into the space 79- between said tube and cone member and past through theorifice73 into the mixing chamber 11 and the remainder passing through the end of said tube. At the bottom of tube 63 is provided an annular pocket 80 which terminates in an annular opening 81 immediately below the plate 72, and which is connected by a pipe'84 to the fuel feed system of the carburetor. A sloping base 82 and an inclined annular Wall 83 are formed integrally with cone member 16 and meet in a circle closely positioned to the exterior wall 85 of pocket 80 thereby forming an annular passageway 86 which decreases in cross section until it becomes a narrow slit 87 concentric with and adjacent the orifice 81.. As best shown in Fig. 2 air passes down the tube 63 and out the holes 77. At the bottom of the cone 16, the air divides, part of it going. out

the orifice 73 and part of it going through the holes 78 and down the tube 63 and then the upper orifice 73 were closed entirely,--

then all of the primary air, would go out of the holes 77 into the space 79 and through the holes 78 into s ace 88 and through the slit 87 where it pic s u through the orifice 74. ut when the orifice 73 is slightly open, a part of the air will pass out of this orifice. In operation superheated air is drawn through the tube 63 into chamber 79 and through the orifice 73. This heats the plate 72. As shoWn' in Fig. 2 the cone member 16 may be screwed upon the tube 63 at 260' so that the orifice 73 may be opened or closed as desired to vary the relative amount of air passing through orifices 73 and 74. At the same time the major portion of the superheated air passes out of the end of .tube 63 into the chamber 88 formed within cone member 17 and from there through the contracting passageway 86, this operationbeing due to the factsv 17 are under substantially the same depres fuel and carries it sion. As this air-passes the orifice 87 which is the minimum opening of said passage way, a reduction of pressure is produced in a well known manner, which together with the reduction of ressure due to difference of pressure within and without the carburetor causes the fuel. to be drawn through the orifice 81 from the pocket 80.

As will be noted both the fuel from the orifice 81 and the air from the orifice 87 are both projectedagainst the heated plate 72 which aids in the carburetion of the air. Within the mixing chamber 11 the main body of air is drawn which passes outside of the orifices 73 and 74. At this point the cone members 16 and 17 form a relatively contracted passageway which causes the air to increase in velocity and which creates areduction of pressure at the point of contraction in excess of the reduction due to internal and external diflerence of ressure somewhat similar to the action of a enturi tube. There is a similar condition in regard to the passageway 86. This has the effect of drawing out the rich mixture of air and fuel from the orifice 74 which enters the main air stream at right angles to the flow thereof. Due to the large circumference of orifices 73 and 74 and due to the relative narrowness of the air passageway between the casing 10 and the cone members 16 and 17 at these orifices, the rich mixture is uniforml diluted and mixed It becomes evident t at since the fuel ocket 80 and inlet pipe 84 extend within t e chamber 88 the fuel is kept at a relatively higher tem erature by the heated air passing out o the lower end of the tube 63 and through said ployed it is found advisable to inject a smallquantity of water into the fuel mixture when the engine runs at or near a full load. This I introduce by means of a tube 90 into an annular chamber 91 formed between base 82, wall 83, and the cone member 17 which is drawn out through a series of apertures 92 i in base 82 and discharged into the stream of rich fuel mixture which passes between plate 72 and base 82 and is drawn into the mixing chamber 11. Inasmuch as the water is only required when the engine is running loaded a device is used for checking the flow of the same after the engine'runs at a light load which device will be later explained.

The fuel and water feeding system of my carburetor is best seen in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4. Cast integral with casing 10 are three caps or covers 93, 94 and95 and threaded into such ca s are bowls 96, 97 and 98. On the top of t ese caps are formed tube connections 99, 100 and 101 which are respectively connected to a high grade fuel reservoir, a low grade fuel reservoir, and a water reservoir. Associated with each of these 7 tube connections is avalve 102 having a valve stem 103 on which is mounted a float 104, said stem being slidable in a pair of bearings 105 and 106. A constant height of liquid is hence maintained within the bowls,

which is slightly below the orifice 74 in the carburetor mixing chamber 11. Each bowl is further provided with a drain plug 107. The bottoms of the fuel bowls 96 and 97 are connected by tubes 108 and 109 to a two way cock 110 by means of which either or both of the fuels may be fed into the carburetor by means of a pipe 111. Thispipe passes through the wall of chamber 10 and terminates in a head 112 secured to the lower end of cone member 17. A needle valve 113,-extending through case 10, closes and opens a passageway 114 leading from pipe 111 to the tube 84. The valve 113 and the cock 110 may be adjusted according to the quantity of fuel desired and according to the grade of fuel which is used.

in the usual manner. The water feed pipe 90 leading to chamber 91 in the carburetor extends out through case 10 at 118 and is connected to a needle valve casing 119 just below the float bowl 98. A pipe 120 connected with valve casin 119 extends up into the interior of said bow and terminates in a valve seat 121. A vertical rod 122 slidably mounted in a boss 123 and extending through a slot 131 in float 104 is positioned to'engage the seat 121 and open and close the passageway from the bowl 98 to pipe 120. This valve is normally held seated by a spring 124 which acts against a shoulder 125 on said rod. A link 126 is pivoted to the rod 122 at127 and is formed at its upper end with a longitudinal slot 128. Upon the butterfly valve spindle 116" is mounted an arm 129 which has a pin 130 adapted to slide in .the slot 128. When the butterfly valve 115 is nearly closedand the engine is running on light load, pin 130 moves freely in the slot 128. and the valve at the end of pipe 120 is closed. As soon as the valve is suiiiciently opened pin 130 engages the upper end wall of slot 128 and lifts rod 122, thereby open- .ing said valve. By adjusting the position of lever arm 129 on spindle 116, WhlCll arm is held thereon by means of a set screw 132 the amount of suction caused by the engine at which the valve is o ened can be varied.

In connection with t e heating device of my carburetor previously explained a tem perature controlling device 1 is employed which is inserted in the outlet 69 of the heater and which canv be seen in detail in Figures 5 and 6. A rectangular casing 133 is used which is formed rounded at 234 and screwed into the outlet member 69. Vithin this casing are positioned two strips 134 and 135 of a thermostatic metal which are adapted to take a curved or a straight position as shown respectively in Figures 5 and 6 when subje cted to a change in temperature. These strips are mounted on shafts 136 and terminate in gear segments 138 and 139 as shown in Figure 3. To the gear segment 139 is fastened a lever 140 which may be adjusted by two thumb screws 141 and 142 to simultaneously oscillate the shafts 136 and 137 in opposite directions. This serves to vary the degree of temperature at which the heater is kept as will presently become evident. Upon the other ends of the thermostatic strips 134 and 135 are mounted doors or gates 143 and 144 which in the curved position of strips 134 and 135 caused by a high temperature close the opening to the exterior from the case 133 and greatly reduce the passage of the exhaust fluid from the heater permitting the excessive heat in the heater to be absorbed by the air tube and mixing chamber and transferred to the air to be heated. As soon as the heating fluid 137 which extend out through the casing and withinthe heater cools sufficiently, gates 143 and 144 open and more hot fluid passes through the same. Case 133 is covered by a cap 145 bolted thereto, which. is provided with pockets 146 and. 147 in which gates 143 and 144 may lodge when the same is open as shown in Figure 6. Due tothe fact that the gates 143 and 144 and strips 134 and 135 may be slightly spaced from the walls of the casing 133, the instrument becomes very sensitive.

I have found that by running the engine at a constant temperature the efi'ectiveness and efliciency of my carburetor will be greatly increased.

In starting the engine a choke valve 148 is used which is positioned in the air inlet 12 and which operates in the usual manner. Inasmuch as this valve controls the entire volume of air drawn into the carburetor a lug 149 and an adjustable stop 150 are employed which are shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 and which determine the amount of air to be drawn-in for starting and which prevent the suction of fuel oil alone into the carburetor which would be the case when the choke valve was entirely closed.

A modification ofthe controlling device for the air inlet valve 21 is shown in Figure 8. On the upper portion ofthe air inlet 12 is formed a cylindrical member 151 having a head 152. The valve spindle 22 extends through this head and is provided with a dash pot 153 in said cylindrical member and within the air inlet 12. Upon the exterior of head 152 iscast two lugs 154 and 155 to which are pivoted two arms-156 and 157. A pair of compression coil springs 158 and 159 act between spring seats 160 and 161 pivoted to the ends of links or arms 156 and 157 and to a rider 162 slidably mounted on the end of spindle 22. The action of this device is identical with that shown in Figure 1,'the construction'differing mainly inthe use of two springs instead of one. For varying the angularity of these springs I employ a nut 163 and lock nut 164 which are screwable upon the end of spindle 22 to hold the rider 162 in adjusted position upon said spindle. For varying the compression of the springs a threaded sleeve 164' .is used which is screwed upon the cylindrical member 151 and engages the edges of arms 156 and 157 to swing the same about their pivots and vary the length of the springs.

The modification shown in Figure 9 differs mainly from the structure shown in Figure 2 in the method of introducing the fuel and air into the lower cone member. Here the baflie 72 is made solid, the pipe 63 being. secured thereto and terminating at its junc tion therewith. The air esca es into chamber 79 through a plurality of ho es 300 and from thence throu h the orifice 73 as previously mentioned.

iris introduced into the lowercone 17 by means of a pipe 301 which is connected at one end with the pipe 63 at 302 passes through the casing 10 and behind it and enters the cylinder 11 below the cone member 17 at 303 and is connected at its other end with the lower portion of said cone member at 304. The fuel is introduced into cone member 17 by means of a stand pipe 305 which is connected at the bottom to the valve member 112 and terminates at its upper extremity in a nozzle 306. The walls 82 and 83 in this case are slightly spaced from the stand pipe 305 forming an air passageway 307 similar to the passageway 87 of the previous structure and the holes or apertures 92 of thesame are replaced by an orifice 308 issuing into the passageway 307. The operation 1s substantially the same as the other form, the'fuel and air being simulanteously projected against baffle 72 and then drawn out through Orifice 74.

The advantages of my invention are manifest. The device is entirely automatic in every detail and once adjusted will operate continuously n any liquid fuel. There are means for discharging said fuel against said 2. A carburetor comprisinga casing having a main. air passageway, apair of cone shaped members positioned in said passageway with their basesv together and spaced fromeach other to form an annular opening, a baffle positionedbetween said cone memhere, means for admitting fuel, means for directing said fuel against one side of said badile,'and means for conducting heated air against the other side of said baflle.

3. A carburetor comprising a casing hav ing a main air passageway, a pair of cone shaped members positioned in said passageway with their bases together and spaced from each other to form an annular opening, a baflie positioned between saidcone through said baflie to discharge the rest of said heated air on the other side thereof, means for admitting fuel for mixing with said last mentioned air, and means 'for conducting the mixture against the last shaped members positioned in said passageway with their bases together and spaced from each other to form an annular opening, a bafiie positioned between said cone members, a tubular member extending through one end of said tubular members for conducting heated air, said tubular memT her being provided with apertures for discharging said air against said baille, means for admitting fuel, and means for directing said fuel against said bafile.

5. A carburetor comprising a casing hav ing a main air passageway, a pair of cone shaped members positioned in said passageway with their bases together and spaced from each other, a baiflle positioned between said cone members and spaced from the edges thereof to form annular orifices, a

tubular member within said cone members for conducting heated air into the same, said tubular member having apertures .for discharging some of said heated air against one side of said bafile for passage through one of said annular orifices and extending through said baflle to discharge the rest of said heated air on the other side thereof, means for conducting fuel for mixing with said last mentioned air, and means for conducting the mixture against the last mentioned side of said bafile for passage through the other of said annular orifices.

6. A carburetor comprising a casing having a main air passageway, a pair of cone shaped members positioned in said passageway withtheir bases together and spaced from each other to form an annular opening, a bafiie positioned between said cone members, means for admitting fuel; heated air andwater for mixing with'each other, and means for conducting the mixture against said baflie for passage through said annular opening.

with said heated air.

8. A carburetor comprising a casing having a main air passageway, a pair of cone shaped members positioned in said passageway with their bases together and spaced from each other to form an annular opening, said cone members forming a constricfor passage through said annular opening, and means for admitting fuel for mixing tion'in the air passageway at their bases, v

a tube extending into said cone members for conducting heated air into the same, a pocket surrounding said tube at the lower portion thereof and having an annular orifice at its upper end for delivering fuel, aninclined wall secured to one of said cone members and approaching said pocket near the open edge thereof, said wall, forming a constricted passageway terminating in an annular orifice concentric with said first named orifice adjacent the same for conducting the heated air past the fuel orifice to draw the fuel out of said pocket, and a bafiie' for directing the mixture of heated air and fuel out of the cone members into the main air passageway.

9. A carburetor comprising a casing, members positioned within said casing and forming therewith an annular main air passagewa means admitting fuel and air within sai members to form a primary mixture therein, means, forming with one of said members a circular orificeat said constriction in the main air passageway, through which the primary mixture is discharged, heating means for heating the primary air to a degree in excess of that in the main air passageway and means for conducting primary airfrom the heating device to the primaryair outlet.

FRANKLIN WESLEY SPRINGER. 

